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Fit for December: Must Haves

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:30:00 -0800

They say the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, but I must add that it generally isn't the healthiest. Here are a few things I think will help you stay happy, fit, and healthy in December.

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Game Review: Your Shape For Wii

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:50:08 -0800

There's a new fitness game in town and it's ready to work you out and make you sweat. Your Shape ($69), a new Wii game by Ubisoft, makes Jenny McCarthy your workout coach and training buddy so you don't have to sweat it out alone.

The game comes with a camera that you perch on your TV; it captures your image and plays it on your TV so you move with a reflection of yourself, like looking in a mirror. The camera also monitors your movements, and if you slack off, Jenny will let you know - she also gives you praise when you make a correction. Who couldn't use an ego boost mid-workout?

To learn more about the game, continue reading.

Fit for December: Must Haves

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:15:00 -0800

REI Power Stretch Tights ($70)	Hands2Go: Alcohol Free Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer ($3.50)
Juice Beauty SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers ($15)	Peppermint	Single Leg Squats

If you want to see why these are my December must haves just read more

REI Power Stretch Tights ($70): Come winter and snow time, you want a pair of toasty pants you can wear for a variety of activities, and these Stretch Tights by REI will take you on a run through wintry streets and to the slopes as a great base layer. Made with Polartec fabric that stretches four directions to ensure ease of motion, they have a moisture-wicking velour fleece to keep you dry on the inside and a smooth nylon outer face that sheds light rain and wind. I love that they come with an unobtrusive zippered side pocket.
Hands2Go Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer ($3.50): Keep your hands germ free with this alcohol-free hand sanitizer. Not only does it kill 99 percent of bacteria, but it also moisturizes with a blend of aloe vera, chamomile, and lavender extracts.
Tinted lip balm with sunscreen: Just because it is cold outside doesn't mean the sun cannot do damage. I love this trio of lip moisturizers with mineral tint for color and SPF 15 by Juice Beauty ($15). There is a color for every occasion. I would definitely slip one if these into the zippered pocket of my REI running tights!
Peppermint: This herb is more than candy-cane flavoring; peppermint is considered by many to be the world's oldest medicine. Peppermint has been shown to help decrease symptoms of irritable bowl syndrome. It can also help relieve cold symptoms by working as a decongestant and expectorant. Warm yourself with a cup of peppermint tea.
Single-Leg Squats: Skiing season officially starts in December (here's hoping for a good snow year in the Sierras) and you need to start conditioning for the slopes now, if not yesterday! Single-leg squats are the exercise to get your thighs mountain ready. Start with six reps on each leg, for two sets.

Alessandra Ambrosio Lunges For VS Runway

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:17 -0700

I know models need to work hard to stay slim and in shape, but a lingerie model must have to work 10 times harder since she just about bares it all.

So when Victoria's Secret model, Alessandra Ambrosio had a baby girl last August, she had to do a lot of cardio to lose her post-baby pounds so she could strike her stuff on the runway four months later. Her body looked amazing in a short amount of time, but she said for this year's show, it's not as easy. Alessandra said, "After I gave birth, my diet was a very healthy diet, like no sugar, no bread." But now the model admits, "I am just eating whatever." So to get toned up, she's trying to work out four days a week. "This year is all about weights, squats, and lunges."

I think this stunning mother already looks unbelievably toned and fit for the VS Fashion Show this December 1, but I'm sure if I was her and going to be strutting around in my undies in front of a huge crowd, I'd hit the gym as much as possible too.

A Week in Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:00:00 -0800

In case you missed it, here is what we've been talking about.

As 2007 comes to an end, be sure to check out all the Best things of 2007.

It's still the holidays, so here are five ways to burn 100 calories.

Walking after a high fat meal does wonders for your health.

Ways to combat that dreaded winter itch.

I'm curious, what fitness gifts did you get this year? Also, has your doctor ever told you to lose weight? Do you cover the display on cardio machines?

Try this yoga Bow pose to increase flexibility in your spine.

Do something nice and burn calories - shovel your neighbors snow.

When should you do crunches in your workout?

It only takes five minutes to be on your way to a healthier you.

Don't get the blues - tips for avoiding the post holiday let down.

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of popular New Year's celebratory beverages.

Here's a tip: work opposing muscle groups when lifting weights.

Why we should all love indoor rock climbing.

Check out the healthiest airports for your holiday travels.

Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't starve a fever.

The latest in to-go coffee? Meet the Skinny.

A Week in Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:00:00 -0800

In case you missed it, here is what we've been talking about.

There is still time to win a $250 gift card from REI, enter to win here.

Be sure to cast your vote for all the best things of 2007.

Also, I've got a lot of great gift ideas in my Holiday Gift Guide.

Courtney Thorne-Smith is pregnant and fit - lucky girl!

Can you guide your way through a day of eating while flying? Take the fun quiz and find out.

Here's how to do the Lifted Lotus - a great yoga pose that really works your abs.

What is the difference between a Pilates mat and a Pilates reformer class?

Green tea and broccoli are goods weapon against cancer. Meat, on the other hand, not so much.

Five ingredients to watch out for and avoid, if possible.

Did you know that snowboarding can burn up to 340 calories per hour? Here is a great chart that shows how many calories you burn per hour while doing your favorite Winter activities.

Title Nine makes a good sports bra for ladies with larger chests (tried and tested by CasaSugar).

No treadmill? Then check out this creative and less-expensive option using a door, a resistance band, and a door anchor.

A fellow user is looking for nonfood reward ideas . . . give her your advice on your own nonfood rewards.

Holiday Survival: Make More of Your Workouts

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:00:09 -0800

Extra calories can sneak into our day without us realizing it, especially during the holiday season, but the good news is we can sneak in additional exercise, too. I know that working out might drop a few notches on your priority list this time of year, so make more of your regular routine when you do make it to the gym.

Add a couple of extra sprints into your interval workouts, and extend the time you usually spend doing your favorite form of cardio by five or 10 minutes so you have enough recovery time between sprints. Pushing yourself harder than usual will challenge your fitness and help you burn more calories.

You may find yourself going into post-holiday workouts with a whole new attitude from pushing yourself through those sweaty December sprints. Not only will you survive the holidays more successfully, but the slight change in intensity might just give you a head start on your New Year's fitness resolutions.

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Get Back on Track: Work Out Today

FitSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

I always begin December with the best intentions. I will work out, eat well, avoid overindulging, and get enough sleep no matter how full my schedule becomes. By this last week of the month, it becomes clear that I have had to make some compromises in my healthy routine. Maybe you have too? This year, with Christmas falling on a Thursday, many of us have had four or more days off. With all those days of relaxing and chilling out, Sunday is the day to reclaim your fitness life. I often consider Sunday a rest day, and if I do anything physical it is yard work or something family-oriented like hiking. Today, though, to get back on track, not just from a weekend but a whole month of brushing exercise aside, I am going on a long, slow meditative run. Jumpstart your last week of 2008 with a long Sunday workout. Be sure to pack your gym bag for tomorrow too.

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Samantha Harris: A New Mom With Rock Hard Abs

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

Samantha Harris, co-host of Dancing With the Stars, just gave birth a year ago, and now she's the cover girl of the latest edition of Muscle & Fitness Hers flaunting her lean and toned body. She told People magazine, "I really wanted to show moms out there that you really could get that body back." Holy rock-hard six-pack abs! It's amazing that she was pregnant 12 months ago.

How did she do it? To find out, read more.

Samantha wears baby daughter Josselyn in a BabyBjörn during her workouts while doing squats and lunges up steep stairs. Not only does it give them bonding time together, but the extra weight builds muscle and makes regular exercises even more difficult. To hear more about Samantha's routines, check out the November/December 2008 issue of Muscle & Fitness Hers.

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Physhion's Fashionista Gym Bag Giveaway

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:04:05 -0800

Christmas is fast approaching, and they say it is better to give than to receive, but now is not the time to splurge on yourself. That is why FitSugar and Physhion, maker of luxury gym bags, have decided to give one lucky reader a beautiful gym bag. In fact, we will be giving one bag away each week for the month of December.

This week we are giving away a Fashionista bag ($225), which is really a gym bag disguised as a purse but with an interior designed to organize your workout gear. It even has separate pockets for all your electronics. My favorite feature is the shoe pouch on either end of the bag. This ~~purse~~ gym bag comes with a wet/dry pouch for storing your sweaty post-workout clothes, as well as a toiletry bag to hold all your products. It even comes with a programmable lock. If I had this bag, I would go to the gym every day just to show it off.

To enter to win a Fashionista gym bag, just take this short gym quiz below by 1 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct but simply on taking the quiz after you are logged in.

You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to enter. So if you're not already one, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: You must be logged in to TeamSugar for your quiz to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

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